practice makes perfect- I hope.

It's hard to be someone who loves to take pictures to have a bunch of kids who do not like getting their picture taken.  The little boys let me as long as I don't make them stop what they are doing to pose for me.  The older boys I usually have to bribe.  I have been really into taking pictures lately.  I really, really want to get better.  I don't see me ever doing it professionally but I love it as a hobby.  I want to be able to take those amazing pictures of my own kids.  So I read a bunch online and set up a little spot downstairs and tried it out.  I did Baco first: 

 I think Stockton is the easiest kid to photograph.  He don't sit still AT ALL but he smiles a lot.  I just start talking to him about stuff he likes and he goes off.   Blake is another story:

 Blake told me he would let me take his picture if I paid him 50 bucks.  I told him how about a fruit roll up and you don't get in trouble.  I even talked him into letting me DO HIS HAIR ::gasp:: but that took me buying him a app on the ipad.  He only let me do his hair for one picture.

Brett is the HARDEST!

 The kid won't sit for more then 5 seconds on the little chair I have and it's super rare he looks at me.  The best pictures I got is when he had a capri sun in his mouth.  He wouldn't let me take it away from him.  Then my camera died.  Maybe another day.

Ty isn't too bad but between him not being able to look at the camera and his fake 8 year old smile it was hard to get him to smile and not look weird. I got him to laugh a little bit though.

 Tyson's nerd hair.  I had to bribe him too to let me do anything other then old man hair to him.  I usually give in and do it like this for school.  It's the way he likes it.

#embracethecamera

I follow a lady on instagram that takes AMAZING photographs of her kids.  She did a challenge to those who follow her site to Embrace The Camera.  We as mom's never seem to get in front of the camera for many reasons like - we are always behind the camera - we don't like how we look etc etc.  Even if our hairs a mess, we have a few extra pounds we want to get rid of, or were dressed like were ready for bed doesn't mean you shouldn't be in a picture.  Thats how my kids see me. I want my kids to remember I spent ALL my time with them because if something happened to me today my little boys would have little evidence I was in their lives.  So I took up the challenge!

 St. Patricks day

 Stock and I making a orange Julius 

 These group selfies were VERY hard to pull off with wiggly boys. 

 Reading books.  Brett loves books!

 Mamma's helper- notice his tongue sticking out?  

 Swings.  Brett likes me to swing next to him all the time. 

 A rare cuddle with my buddy. 

This is my sweet nephew Daxton.  Isn't he a doll? 

I encourage you to do this challenge for even just one week. I'm going to try harder to not be afraid to be in a picture with my kids.  

Wyoming

Blake wants to live in Wyoming.  This is why:

Like it or not my family likes to hunt.  A lot.  So they went rabbit hunting. We went up on over a Friday Saturday in February and the boys went hunting and Katie and I went to a craft store.  

 I love that Bryan finally got a iphone so he takes pictures now without me bothering him to remember to do it.

 Mine craft nerds.  

 Stock is a little obsessed with their dog Sam. 

It's (almost) SPRING!

It's spring!  Or at least it feels like spring.  And around here that means you have a day like this where you get the tramp out and work in the yard all afternoon and the next day you have snow everywhere.  I'm so excited to start spend time outside.  I love working in my flower beds and garden.  My boys could be outside all day too.  Love this time of year!

Daxton

I FINALLY got to meet my sweet nephew Daxton last weekend on a visit to my moms house.  He is so sweet!

 I Love Dax's face.  I think he is getting the right idea about Baco.  

 The Pack Grandkids.  Amazing to get them all looking at the camera. 

 Isn't he sweet? I could cuddle him all day!

I love my Portrait Lens!

I've been saving for months for a new lens for my camera and then my couches bit the dust so it all went to that.  As soon as I saved up enough for another one I hurried and bought it before I needed the money for something else! I love it! I'm still not very good at it but I'm getting better.  Here is our February in pictures:

We have finally had a few really warm days! After the snow we got at the first of February I'll take the warm temps. Brett especially has loved it.

Blake was yelling at Stockton for running into his feet. 

Bretty always has a dirty face.  I kind of give up on keeping it clean.  

Playing Hungry Hungry Hippos 

We finished the book of Mormon as a family this month.  We started last summer and just finished.  Ty and Blake would even remind us if we forgot that day to read.

It sucks to be the little brother sometimes doesn't it Brett? Stockton took the toy he wanted.

Hey ladies- would  you like to go for a ride in my cozy coupe?

Muscles

                                                                                            Brett really loves his kitty.